Mayor Announces Major Public Art Project"Tour de Lincoln" expected to raise $200,000 for charity and the arts

Mayor Don Wesely and the Lincoln Arts Council (LAC) announced today the
beginning of a new public art community project called "Tour de Lincoln."
Area artists will start with a steel sculpture of a bicycle and will add
their own unique touches to the pieces, which will be displayed throughout
the community. The project will also raise an estimated $200,000 for
charity, local artists and the LAC.

"Other communities have conducted similar projects using cows, ponies, pigs
and, in Omaha, the J. Doe human forms," said Mayor Wesely. "Lincoln will be
the first to use an object instead of a living form, and the bicycle was
selected to celebrate our city trail system, one of the best in the nation.
This is an outstanding way to take art to the public and to raise money for
worthwhile causes in our community."

The bikes were designed by LAC board member Laurel Shoemaker, a designer at
Berggren & Woll, Architects. Midwest Steel Works, Inc. of Lincoln will cut
and weld the steel bikes. Anchored on a concrete base, each bike will be
more than four feet tall, seven feet long and weigh more than 385 pounds.

"Having the opportunity to design the bicycle for the Tour de Lincoln project
was very exciting," said Shoemaker. "By using steel, we will be creating
permanent pieces of art. This project is one more way the Lincoln Arts
Council serves the citizens of Lincoln, and I encourage all Lincolnites to
join the Tour!"

Beginning next week, a notice will be sent to local and regional artists,
encouraging participation in the project. Artists will develop designs over
the summer, and the judging of submissions will take place in mid-August.
During the fall of 2002, the Arts Council will host parties at which businesses
and individuals can make contributions to sponsor one of the 50 selected
designs. The chosen artists will have their sculptures ready for display
at sponsor locations during the summer of 2003, and Lincolnites will be
encouraged to travel around Lincoln by car, foot or bike to view the
sculptures at sponsor locations.

The final phase in the project is a major public auction in the fall of 2003.
For each bike sold, the proceeds will be split equally by the artist, the
buyer's chosen charity and the LAC. Organizers expect the bikes to be sold
for about $5,000.

"Our hope is that some of the patrons who purchase the bike sculptures will
donate them to the Parks and Recreation Foundation for placement along our
trails," said Lynn Johnson, Lincoln Parks and Recreation Director. "In this
way, the general public can continue to enjoy these art works for many years."
Deb Weber, LAC Executive Director, said Tour de Lincoln fits well with the
mission of the Arts Council to serve as an advocate for the arts, encourage
community cultural development, and promote Lincoln area artists.

For more information on the project, call the Tour De Lincoln hotline at
890-1022.